I can see both sides of this debate but the way I personally see it is that if we go on about how things will look out of place because they are too tall we won’t make any tall building creating a circle.
So we would build smaller buildings and eventually have to knock down the smaller ones if we ever want tall ones, basically we have to throw ourselves into the deep end if we want to grow.

Thankfully the buildings surrounding the site of Lumiere aren't as low rise as around West Riding House. It is a much denser area, so hopefully the overbearing effect that WRH has won't be repeated. I think the fact that WRH sits at the end of a street doesn't help matters, and the fact it's so fat.

WRH actually looks pretty elegant from its thin side.

I quite like the effect WRH has- well, I dont like WRH itself, but it could be worse. I like the effect of it but when it was built Im sure it messed up some of the traffic patterns and flows. Lumiere is being built on a site that doesnt block roads though, and is on a clear site- I dont think there will be a problem.

Does anyone have any construction pics of WRH? Or any of the other older towers? were they as reported in the press as BWP is now? Was WRH on the front page of the YEP or anything? I'd like to see some old renders, see what public opinion on it was, all that jazz. Wasn't WRH built around the same time as City Exchange, Tower house etc? Was it reported as a "construction boom"? Fred?

If we go down the memory lane, did people cheered up Merrion Centre when it was built?

I give up No1, you clearly do not understand the point I am making about 'proportion' and the impact buildings have on the wider urban environment.

I understand a point you are trying to make but don't agree with some of your views. There is no reason why Leeds shouldn't be ambitious and go for big growth, as are Manchester and the other major UK cities. The city, the region and the country needs it. But I agree with you that they have to be planned in the right place and to the right quality.

To say we are not Manhatten holds no water, what relevance is it ? tall buildings are for more than just Manhatten, almost every U.S. city, large or small, has had a well defined cluster of talls for decades, and that ubiquitous 'standard' is now spreading to Europe as well as across the rest of the world. We (in Europe) have the added complication of conservation and history to protect, which has to be done as the character of our older European cities is a precious assett, but elsewhere in these cities, skyscrapers are the order of the day.


Unless cities bang up a few skyscrapers they have no chance of getting anywhere. Please don't take this the way but if you believe that you are daft.



Like it or not, it is vital to have some sort of quality high rise architecture in your major city, as this is now the generic and global benchmark that any major city's image is based on. (And there's no need to resort to insulting other forummers to make your point, it doesn't work)

>>>> but elsewhere in these cities, skyscrapers are the order of the day>>>

It certainly does seem to be the fashion nowadays. Only time will tell whether it is only a passing fashion - there have been many before in architecture.

They have been going for a hundred years now in the big US cities, so they are starting to look fairly long term. Ever increasing demand on land will surely cement that into a permanent condition.

It does seem to make sense, that as less space is available to build upon in cities, the only way to build is upwards. Buildings have been getting gradually taller throughout history. It's a trend that's been going on forever as technology has improved. Skyscrapers are here to stay.

Subliving.

Skyscrapers, "a passing fashion"? That "motor car" surely just a flash-in-the-plan. Television? Pah. It will never replace the radiogram.

Does anyone else see Mr Burns face when Fred posts? (No offence Fred)

While I strongly support building upwards, I also support the expansion of the city centre into the inner city as it has done in the East Bank, to regenerate the inner city areas and also to satisfy some of the demand from the city centre.

The forum is about more than just whooping about tall buildings, surely it about all aspects of the urban environment. Whilst I don't neccesarily agree with Freds concerns the general issues he raises about these sort of towers fitting into the urban environment are valid IMO. I sometimes get the impression that height is the main issue for some on here, the taller the better no matter what the impact on the surrounding area. Weren't some on about being happy with 300-400m towers being built in Leeds a couple of months back? This is Leeds not Manhatten!


S K Y S R A P E R C I T Y - you just don't get it do you!! This forum, in my opinion, is for people who love skyscapers and anything to do with them, and yes, the taller the better is what we should be striving for. I agree we need quality and not just quantity, but look at all the other city forums and you will see very quickly why people come onto this site and why they get excited when their city proposes or builds skyscapers.
You say this is Leeds not Manhatten, but 10 years ago you would have said we could never compete with London never mind Manhatten, and today we are by building skyscapers which we would have never dreamed about just a few years ago.

I have to say that some people who banmg on solely about architecture seem to miss the point of this forum at times. Yes we want buildings that are sensitive to their surroundings, but we also want the buildings that your average Joe would get exited about. Unfortunately I do not think the majority of people in Leeds (or any other city) could give a toss about buidlings on the Headrow etc. People will however be impressed by scale and height and to some degree (subconciously) quality. This is not just people coming into the city for shopping, this is the CEO's of the world looking for buildings that give them and theircompany the status (read penis extension) that is needed. This is an American thing, but their the odd US company has proved to be a success.

I do firmly believe that taller buildings wherever they are will impress tourists, locals and drive new business to the city, which will bring all the usual benefits.

On the WRH thing, it really is not that bad, especially on a sunny day. There is nothing specifically different or outstanding about it for it to be offensive. You only have to look up the same street (above Argos and down that piss alley) to witness truly horrific buildings that should be ripped down soon.

It would be great if posters on this forum thought bigger than they did and looked at the potential benefits of buidlings to the wider city rather than what cladding etc they have. I very rarely read comments about the interior of these buildings (which is what businesses have to consider longer term. The whole project is what could be attracting the next big firm to set up in the city.

Rant over

totally agree about the height of building typhoo 25 to have a large impressive skyline totally out weighs the idea of sympathetic developement and cladding standards, the overall boost to the city is unquantifiable IMO.

Its true that people are impressed by height, and its definetley true that most people dont really give a damn about what the buildings look like, unless theres something truly horrific or outstanding about them. Im sure most people dont notice how the buildings are much nicer at the top end of Briggate than the bottom.

As for WRH, I dont know how people can say they like CIS but not WRH- WRH is ok; could be better, could be worse but how is CIS better- I could go as far to use the word fugly. I know it has solar panels now but still- maybe its the height factor that impresses people as discussed earlier.

Time to open a poll "Height vs Quality"? :)

I will support the Quality view, despite the name of this forum, it has evolved to be much broader discussion board with issues like transport, heritage buildings, even wildlife being actively discussed.

Just look at City House, Merrion Towers, Blue, West Point and yes WRH to see what I mean. Yet there are many small hidden jewels around Leeds, Temple Mill alone will outweight all these high-rises.

Does anyone have any construction pics of WRH? Or any of the other older towers? were they as reported in the press as BWP is now? Was WRH on the front page of the YEP or anything? I'd like to see some old renders, see what public opinion on it was, all that jazz. Wasn't WRH built around the same time as City Exchange, Tower house etc? Was it reported as a "construction boom"? Fred?

Sorry to quote myself. But I'm getting quite interested in this. There's not much on Leodis. Would it be worth my while looking at YEP microfiches from the time?

Are there any forumers who remember? I hope Fred2 has some info. Maybe DiLivio can find some old photos from wherever he finds his obscure old photos?

Oh, and were the twin towers (where only K2 remains) built as twin towers. They weren't identical, but very similar.

Here's Dudley House, now K2, being built in the late 60's.
http://www.leodis.net/imagesLeodis/screen/45/2004426_29050845.jpg

Its true that people are impressed by height, and its definetley true that most people dont really give a damn about what the buildings look like, unless theres something truly horrific or outstanding about them. Im sure most people dont notice how the buildings are much nicer at the top end of Briggate than the bottom.

You can not be serious mate.

Time to open a poll "Height vs Quality"? :)


Quality for me any day of the week.

were the twin towers (where only K2 remains) built as twin towers. They weren't identical, but very similar.


Dunno myself but here is a picture taken in 1992. I wonder what happened back then, what's with the people waving flags ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v435/davidlufc/image.jpg

Dunno myself but here is a picture taken in 1992. I wonder what happened back then, what's with the people waving flags ;)



Great picture mate! Hope we'll repeat this one day.

Dunno myself but here is a picture taken in 1992. I wonder what happened back then, what's with the people waving flags ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v435/davidlufc/image.jpg

haha! I was there that day sat on the window ledge of what is now that coffee bar (Caffe Nero?) on the corner of the Headrow and Park Row.

Bonkers, won't see the likes of those days for a while. I remember having a training session at Allerton Grange Middle School hosted by Vinnie Jones and David Batty. Classic, though was always shit at tackling.

No really, show someone a picture of a random building in Leeds and I bet they would have no idea where it was- people don't look up at the buildings, therefore they don't care what they look like. People walk up and down Albion Street just as they do Albion Place and King Edward Street, but compare the two and they're radically different, but when you're just looking at the shopfronts, you don't notice it. I cant think of any really bad areas in Leeds city centre anymore to give a good comparison but you get the point. Dortmund Square looks a bit shabby, and of course the Merrion but generally around, you don't hear people talk about the quality of the buildings. People only care about good shops or not- to some people places like Meadowhall are heaven because all they want are the shops- but it has no architectural comparison to any city centre. About 2 years ago in geography we were studying CBDs and city square was a case study- the image was shown and the teacher said 'who recognises this'. Some guessed London, others had no clue; infact Im pretty sure I was the only person who knew where it was, despite the fact these people pass through the square about once every fortnight. People just look at the ground, or their phones txting, or talking to people and get where they want- in the street next time, just look around and notice how few people are actually taking note of the environment.

We on here all think height is an important aspect, but nobody would want something tall that is an eyesore, quality is especially important when it comes to height as it is more noticable. But for me, as much as i would like to see tall buildings, i'd rather see quality buildings. It is the combination of height and quality that will provide a catalyst to inspire a city and make people of that city proud.

As for them 2 towers... what happened to the second?

We on here all think height is an important aspect, but nobody would want something tall that is an eyesore, quality is especially important when it comes to height as it is more noticable. But for me, as much as i would like to see tall buildings, i'd rather see quality buildings. It is the combination of height and quality that will provide a catalyst to inspire a city and make people of that city proud.

As for them 2 towers... what happened to the second?

It got demolished. It was located where the new build section of The Light is.

It got demolished. It was located where the new build section of The Light is.

I asked the same question about that building a couple of months ago it was called Leeds Permanent Tower as it was the headquarter building for The Leeds Permanent Building Society which was taken over by the Halifax in 1995 and I also asked Skyscraper News and they have it now at the following link http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=4808. Wonder why they did demolish it as opposed to reclad and adapt it.

As for West Riding House it is okay to look at but has anyone noticed how part of the Albion Street facade seems to have become for some reason rusty in recent times. Guess they could reclad it in a metallic cladding similar to BWP perhaps and are they ever going to refurbish those empty shop units where there used to be Safeway on Bond Street and Currys and Scholl on Albion Street. It looks very unattractive looking at boarded up shop units in such a prime location.

what i was saying was that height and quality are the combination that is always required to say that a building has only height as a quality is crazy but the look of a building is always a matter of personal opinion and therfore can never be classified as bad or good indefinatly,

i would be apposed to a large building of little architectural merit

About 2 years ago in geography we were studying CBDs and city square was a case study- the image was shown and the teacher said 'who recognises this'. Some guessed London, others had no clue; infact Im pretty sure I was the only person who knew where it was, despite the fact these people pass through the square about once every fortnight. People just look at the ground, or their phones txting, or talking to people and get where they want- in the street next time, just look around and notice how few people are actually taking note of the environment.

If what you say is generally true I think we must all despair. Why have architects, planning committees if young people like your school/college mates don't care a toss about their surroundings ?

Skyscrapers, "a passing fashion"? That "motor car" surely just a flash-in-the-plan. Television? Pah. It will never replace the radiogram.

Does anyone else see Mr Burns face when Fred posts? (No offence Fred)


No offence taken mistertree. BTW, talking about fashions, does anyone remember the late lamented 'Leeds Look' ?

No offence taken mistertree. BTW, talking about fashions, does anyone remember the late lamented 'Leeds Look' ?

I think he didn't agree with your suggestion that the entire building type would go away. The way that you said it did appear like you were writing off an entire building genre as it were. It's like you decided that the semi-detached house was going to suddenly disappear.

Subliving.

I understand a point you are trying to make but don't agree with some of your views. There is no reason why Leeds shouldn't be ambitious and go for big growth, as are Manchester and the other major UK cities. The city, the region and the country needs it. But I agree with you that they have to be planned in the right place and to the right quality.

To say we are not Manhatten holds no water, what relevance is it ? tall buildings are for more than just Manhatten, almost every U.S. city, large or small, has had a well defined cluster of talls for decades, and that ubiquitous 'standard' is now spreading to Europe as well as across the rest of the world. We (in Europe) have the added complication of conservation and history to protect, which has to be done as the character of our older European cities is a precious assett, but elsewhere in these cities, skyscrapers are the order of the day.




Like it or not, it is vital to have some sort of quality high rise architecture in your major city, as this is now the generic and global benchmark that any major city's image is based on. (And there's no need to resort to insulting other forummers to make your point, it doesn't work)

Have a look at a map of Manhattan, then take a look at a map of Leeds and it's tiny CBD. Notice the difference in size, which is the point I am making. Huge towers in Manhattan do not look out of place and completely overpower the surrounding urban landscape because of it's size. This is the point I am making and to say it is hardly irrelevant unless the only issue that matters to people is taller and taller buildings. Going the other way imagine how ridiculous a 15-20 storey building would look in Morley or Garforth town centre's. An 800m tower would be completely out of proportion in Manhattan. I sincerely cannot understand how some people cannot grasp this concept of proportion. This is the main point I was making with No1.

I am not against tall buildings far from it (La Lumiere and CP will enhance Leeds, no doubt), but in proportion and no-one is ever going to convince me that anything approaching 300m is going to be a good thing for Leeds. La Luminere will completely dominate the western side of the CBD, imagine the impact something twice the size of this would have on the whole city centre. If tall shiny buildings are all that really floats someone's boat at the expense of all other aspects of the urban environment then I can understand the constant need for taller and taller buildings but thankfully most people and planners included will take in account other aspects. There are some fine buildings built over the last 2 centuries in Leeds, lets not ruin the visual impact of these building in the constant quest for height that seem dominate some peoples minds.......unless you want Leeds to turn in some soul-less USA style city centre.

As for insults, I called No 1 daft (hardly an insult in my book) and if he was offended I apologise but some of the comments made on here are daft and not backed up by rational arguments! If I believe someone is talking garbage I will say so, if people think I am they are well within their rights to say so.

Its true that people are impressed by height, and its definetley true that most people dont really give a damn about what the buildings look like, unless theres something truly horrific or outstanding about them. Im sure most people dont notice how the buildings are much nicer at the top end of Briggate than the bottom.

As for WRH, I dont know how people can say they like CIS but not WRH- WRH is ok; could be better, could be worse but how is CIS better- I could go as far to use the word fugly. I know it has solar panels now but still- maybe its the height factor that impresses people as discussed earlier.

Ref. height, most people with little interest in the urban enviroment care little for height IMO. I spent a few days in Frankfurt last month and not one person I was with or met mentioned the skyscrapers in that city or how impressive they were. Granted though that when you get a city that has a truly exceptional skyline like New York or Chicago then the general public will be impressed.

Its true that people are impressed by height, and its definetley true that most people dont really give a damn about what the buildings look like, unless theres something truly horrific or outstanding about them. Im sure most people dont notice how the buildings are much nicer at the top end of Briggate than the bottom.

As for WRH, I dont know how people can say they like CIS but not WRH- WRH is ok; could be better, could be worse but how is CIS better- I could go as far to use the word fugly. I know it has solar panels now but still- maybe its the height factor that impresses people as discussed earlier.

I do like West Riding House. It has bedded in well to it's environment. I think it's just the podium that people don't like. It's really low quality, and completely lacking atmosphere. There really is nothing going on around that area because of the lack of decent shops in there.

As for the tower, I think it's a classic, to be honest. It's big, brash, and unsubtle, which I kinda like.

Subliving.

Superb photo Daveylad. happy days.


Does anyone have any construction pics of WRH?


http://www.leodis.net/imagesLeodis/screen/30/2004426_38183230.jpg


http://www.leodis.net/imagesLeodis/screen/98/2004426_8918398.jpg


http://www.leodis.net/imagesLeodis/screen/75/2002319_67383975.jpg


In the far background you can see the three storey Stock Exchange that used to be in the place of WRH.

A moderately interesting look at the building that used yto be on the site of the Gateway community centre in Harehills, needlessly destroyed in March 1988 by a man later convicted of arson, murder and blackmail. It's a beaut.

http://static.flickr.com/73/153811966_40f5e3b078.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/48/153811983_abf393b86f.jpg?v=0

A moderately interesting look at the building that used yto be on the site of the Gateway community centre in Harehills, needlessly destroyed in March 1988 by a man later convicted of arson, murder and blackmail. It's a beaut.

http://static.flickr.com/73/153811966_40f5e3b078.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/48/153811983_abf393b86f.jpg?v=0

hells donkeys - I remember that, passed it most Saturdays on the No.12 or 13 bus on the way to town. Next door to the old Gaiety pub wasn't it? Next to the Hayfield, possibly the most scary pubs in Leeds. The garage on the second shot is still there though.

hells donkeys - I remember that, passed it most Saturdays on the No.12 or 13 bus on the way to town. Next door to the old Gaiety pub wasn't it? Next to the Hayfield, possibly the most scary pubs in Leeds. The garage on the second shot is still there though.


It was near the Gaiety pub which was on the site of the old Gaiety Kinema (yes it was spelt that way!) on Roundhay Road. The late lamented Hayfield was near Chapeltown Road, at least a half mile away.

It was near the Gaiety pub which was on the site of the old Gaiety Kinema (yes it was spelt that way!) on Roundhay Road. The late lamented Hayfield was near Chapeltown Road, at least a half mile away.

yep sorry, I know that. I meant that 'along' with the Hayfield (next was a misleading term in that context), they were reputably two of the scariest pubs going.

Not sure anyone except the local dealers could call the Hayfield 'late lamented'!

Not sure anyone except the local dealers could call the Hayfield 'late lamented'!

Sorry, I was being a bit sarcastic !

Its not just young people- I notice it in adults too. However, saying that, pretty much everybody does realise that Leeds is a large city, and is the 3rd largest city- they are not unaware of its financial strength and the fact that its an important hub. They just don't seem to acknowledge the buildings themselves. I think part of the reason is to do with the fact that most of the architectural richness isn't in the main shopping core- the place most people go.

No offence taken mistertree. BTW, talking about fashions, does anyone remember the late lamented 'Leeds Look' ?
Hi everyone.
Yes, I remember much talk of the 'Leeds Look'. Does anyone know what its exact specs were and why (and for how long) was it brought in?

No1 - Leeds is not the the 3rd largest UK city, don't kid yourself!

As for the Leeds look, god that was even worse than late 1980's clothes fashion! Whoever designed the likes of the Magistrates Court should have been tortured for crimes against architecture........

Forget It

Whether it is or not doesnt matter; its advertised as the 3rd largest city, so people believe it. Since when haev people not believed what other people have said.

No1 - Leeds is not the the 3rd largest UK city, don't kid yourself!

As for the Leeds look, god that was even worse than late 1980's clothes fashion! Whoever designed the likes of the Magistrates Court should have been tortured for crimes against architecture........

I always thought that perhaps the best example of the 'Leeds Look' genre was the Lawnswood Business Park on the Ring Road.

My dad had a hand in the architecture of Leeds Magistrates Court!!!

The sad thing about the late 80s early 90s Leeds Look trend is that what could potentially have been skyscrapers were built as sprawling groundscrapers because of the unfashionablity of tall buildings at the time. If skyscrapers were in fashion when buildings constructed in the era of the Leeds Look such as Halifax buildings near BWP and the Inner Ring Road, ASDA House and of course Quarry House then imagine how they would have looked if they were built upwards as opposed to sidewards.

Double Post

No1 - Leeds is not the the 3rd largest UK city, don't kid yourself!

As for the Leeds look, god that was even worse than late 1980's clothes fashion! Whoever designed the likes of the Magistrates Court should have been tortured for crimes against architecture........
Leeds has a population of 730,000 bettered only by London and Birmingham.ps The city of Manchester only has a population of some 350,000 not 2.5 million like some of them like to think.

Please don't go there!

Accura, if your looking, allow me:
"Council tax payers, blah blah blah"

Sorry, I was being a bit sarcastic !


not all at.

Its a funny thing, was cycling along the Embankment this evening thought that this forum does strange things to people. I'm positive that if we were all sat in the flesh debating these subjects it would be a healthy debate with give and take on both sides and little room for incomprehension. The written word, whilst tremendously expressive often seems to miss the point. I think that I often misinterpret other people's posts and vice versa. At work, we virtually live by e mail communication, but the number of times an issue could have been resolved by simply picking up the phone and explaining more eloquently in a human voice makes me think that these forums are bound to create conflict and misrepresentation.

How true you are Mr Jimbo, the way something is said is just as important as what is said when attempting to communicate and debate! But if it wasnt for the forum, there would be no discussion amongst us at all... nor would i know what is going on the building world of Leeds and the wider world

My dad had a hand in the architecture of Leeds Magistrates Court!!!


Was his name Albert Speer?


I don't mind the 'Leeds Look' at all. It created lots of inoffensive office space of a reasonable quality at a time when Leeds needed investment. The Playhouse, Magistrates court and Cloth Hall Court (Quebec Street) are all decent enough buildings, could do much worse. They're certainly better quality than those offered today by the likes of Carey Jones. My favourite Leeds look has to be the polished granite of the late 1970s/early 80s (Lloyds Bank, Henry Moore Institute, etc)

Yes but the "Leeds Look" did preclude some interesting buildings from taking shape. The building sat on an island near the Magistrates court (Westgate House?) looks ok but what was originally proposed in the late '70s was a large, 20ish storey glass, curved 'Y' shaped building which stradled the road on either side of the island and was to be lit at night. And then the building where Brannigans was which is now a budget hotel I think is an awfully bland design. This was built in place of a 17 storey tower with a shopping centre suspended and built over the whole of Vicar Lane onto the space where the old Vicar Lane bus station was. That was turned down by the planning commitee I remember well, as being "too much like a block of council flats"!

Was his name Albert Speer?


I don't mind the 'Leeds Look' at all. It created lots of inoffensive office space of a reasonable quality at a time when Leeds needed investment. The Playhouse, Magistrates court and Cloth Hall Court (Quebec Street) are all decent enough buildings, could do much worse. They're certainly better quality than those offered today by the likes of Carey Jones. My favourite Leeds look has to be the polished granite of the late 1970s/early 80s (Lloyds Bank, Henry Moore Institute, etc)

I agree with your sentiments entirely. The Lloyds building is my my favourite building in the city centre. It looks as good today as it did when it was first built, and that will remain the case for years to come.

Yes but the "Leeds Look" did preclude some interesting buildings from taking shape. The building sat on an island near the Magistrates court (Westgate House?) looks ok but what was originally proposed in the late '70s was a large, 20ish storey glass, curved 'Y' shaped building which stradled the road on either side of the island and was to be lit at night. And then the building where Brannigans was which is now a budget hotel I think is an awfully bland design. This was built in place of a 17 storey tower with a shopping centre suspended and built over the whole of Vicar Lane onto the space where the old Vicar Lane bus station was. That was turned down by the planning commitee I remember well, as being "too much like a block of council flats"!

Wow, fascinating stuff Nellynoo.
Are there any books displaying these designs or do you just have a good memory?

My dad had a hand in the architecture of Leeds Magistrates Court!!!



Did he play with lego a lot when he was a child?!!

I agree with your sentiments entirely. The Lloyds building is my my favourite building in the city centre. It looks as good today as it did when it was first built, and that will remain the case for years to come.


It is one of the finest buildings in the city centre and since the awful Norwich Union building in City Square was replaced in 1995 it's impact and aesthetics have been enhanced.

Wow, fascinating stuff Nellynoo.
Are there any books displaying these designs or do you just have a good memory?

No unfortunately I don't have a book anymore - I used to keep all the press cuttings from around that time regarding proposed plans and also used to visit the planning "shop" which used to occupy a site in the Merrion Centre opposite Morrisons - when there were shops down that part of the centre! I just rely on memory now as I dumped the book during one of my many house-moves over the intervening years! The ones I mentioned just stuck out as being ones I thought looked good at the time but never got further than the planning office! The other big one I recall was for the "Leeds Centre" - a big glass fronted shopping centre at the bottom of Briggate encompassing all of Boar Lane to New Station St, all of the Trinity Arcade site and bridges with shops on between the two. The plans died as it was felt the buildings on Boar Lane needed to be retained due to their importance, age, design etc.

Simon22: I'm not sure if he did, but i know i got a lot of lego for christmas when i was a kid! he didnt have a big hand to play, he was fresh out of Leeds College of Technology when the designs were being drawn up! He also used to work in the top of the Lloyd's Bank building, i remember when i used to visit him at work when i was a wee whippersnapper i used to think that building was such a skyscraper haha!

I don't know if this has already been mentioned be here goes anyway.....

The Unite Group Plc

Planning Application

muili-level development up to 37 storeys with 66 studio flats, 33 one bedroom flats, 114 cluster flats with 450 bedrooms and 1 retail unit, The Unite Plaza, Clay Pit Lane.

How long you've been in Space SMARTCITY?

Good news about the Plaza, i just hope they aint as cheap as they were with phase 1, this will have a massive impact on the skyline with it being on elivated ground, i just hope they stump up for some quality building materials!

I wonder if it will be taller than BWP with its 37 stories?? unlikely?

by the way... what is the best website to host photos so i can post some shots of around about Leeds?

How long you've been in Space SMARTCITY?

I wasn't sure which development it was. :runaway:

by the way... what is the best website to host photos so i can post some shots of around about Leeds?

I use Photobucket.com (recommended by Molly so it must be good) :)

Thanx smartcity, i may as well throw on the lil Leeds Horsey i took a wee while back

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m67/ubermensch23/IMG_0123.jpg

What's the story behind the old Black Prince? Why was a statue of him placed in City Square? Anyone know.

Dunno but theres some link to the city- its not just random coz there used to be the Leeds bus company called Black Prince didnt it. I'll try and find out!

My Primary School teacher upon a visit into Leeds told us they were meant to send it to the Leeds down South but they made a mistake and sent it up here and here it stood ever since... I have doubts about the truth of that claim hehe.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/beyond/factsheets/makhist_prog6c.shtml
So there.

Another horsey pic I took this morning.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/naminder/Skyscraper-buildings/Citysquare.jpg

And city point, too much sun!!! And I was trying to turn the corner at the same time.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/naminder/Skyscraper-buildings/Citypoint.jpg

Btw, about city centre convenience stores; I admit there's a lack of them, but people have said that Morrisons and Marks and Spencer Simply Food are the only supermarkets/convenience stores in the centre. Well, I don't know how long it has been here, but there is a Nisa Metro on Wellington Street...

What's the story behind the old Black Prince? Why was a statue of him placed in City Square? Anyone know.

Is it me or does that horse remind me of the old Anglia TV logo. Perhaps they could move the Black Prince statue to Norwich where it would be more fitting. ;)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/94/Knight_crop.JPG/180px-Knight_crop.JPG

Aswell as marks and spencers simply food there is the massive food section at the city centre marks and spencers. Between that, Morrisons, and the markets I don't see what else anyone needs? It's certainly more than what I've got within a mile of my house.

Well I read here recently that Sainsburys are to open in the old Lewis's / Allders building, the Co-op are to open in West Central next month and I guess Waitrose will open when the Eastgate Quarter is constructed alongside John Lewis. They should certainly find a supermarket tenant for the old Safeway though as it was a popular shop when it was open I cannot see why they cannot reopen it and it looks a total eyesore boarded up. When these are open Leeds would be well served by food retailers which it is in my opinion lacking at the moment as such stores seem to be everywhere in other major cities.

I don't think thats true at all- convenience stores lack in every city centre. Wheres the old safeway in Leeds? Morrisons maybe? Yes M&S does have a food hall- I was going to say but its expensive, but then again, the sort of people that would be moving into the city centre are gonna have money!

The old Safeway was on the ground floor of West Riding House on Bond Street next door to NatWest it was well used due to its location in main business area and proximity to retail core. It closed in late 2004 I think due to Morrisons having to sell off some stores and also the lease ending on that site which someone told me that on here told me had intended to redevelop this site into non food retail. Also heard someone whilst at work say that ASDA is to open here but no work whatsoever has occured and it looks such an eyesore at present and cannot believe how this has been empty for so long as it was well used. A picture from 1991 on Leodis shows this now closed shop below:

http://www.leodis.org/imagesLeodis/screen/47/2005427_1668947.jpg

hmm dont remember that there, but yes its a good location; but to be fair, its not in the residential areas of the city centre, then again suppose its convenient enough for some people. Skopie where do you live! Within a mile of your house theres no convenience store? I can think of 7 straight off well within a mile from me and Im not even in a city!

There was a short article in the YEP today about the council employing some sort of team to ensure tall buildings in Leeds reach the highest standards.

Of course I have convenience stores, but they certainly don't beat the range and variety on offer at the morrisons, marks and spencers, and the markets in Leeds.

oh right; and also the amazing cost of stuff on the market! Really good fruit dirt cheap. I have 24hr ASDA as a convenience store :D Well I say that but its a good 5 minutes walk so suppose its not that convenient..

There was a short article in the YEP today about the council employing some sort of team to ensure tall buildings in Leeds reach the highest standards.

Lets hope they pull the Unite Plaza developers up by the bootstraps and make them turn in a good effort to redeem themselves after their piss-poor effort with phase one!

There was a short article in the YEP today about the council employing some sort of team to ensure tall buildings in Leeds reach the highest standards.

There is a policy document currently being drafted, I have read a few bits about it and saw some snippets of the work going into it at the city centre panel meeting last week. I may start a new thread on it when I get a chance, as it is important for us.

Any thoughts on me starting a new thread? A thread all about the suburbs of Leeds and the changing architecture? The thread could include all the small towns that make Leeds and the Leeds Region what it is today.

Any thoughts on me starting a new thread? A thread all about the suburbs of Leeds and the changing architecture? The thread could include all the small towns that make Leeds and the Leeds Region what it is today.
sounds like a great idea to me Smartcity. it would be good to know whats going on around the region as well as in the city centre.

Aswell as marks and spencers simply food there is the massive food section at the city centre marks and spencers. Between that, Morrisons, and the markets I don't see what else anyone needs? It's certainly more than what I've got within a mile of my house.

Everyone forgets Costco, which is only across the road from Clarence Dock!

Ah yes! People can also buy fuckoff muffins in bulk aswell. What more do people need?

Don't hold me to it but a friend of mine had been down to the Clarence Dock marketing suite and learnt that Tesco, H&M and someone else who I can't remember are all confirmed retail tenants. Hopefully they will be the first of many.

H&M! Thats good! I didn't think it would be attracting major high street chains! All the same, H&M is good! It is definetley a major anchor for other stores, and if its these sort of shops, it could almost be an extension of the city centre- certainly worth a visit.

Soon we'll have nearly as many H&M's as subways in the city ;)

Tesco is good news though, especially for the residents.

Any thoughts on me starting a new thread? A thread all about the suburbs of Leeds and the changing architecture? The thread could include all the small towns that make Leeds and the Leeds Region what it is today.
Count me in, great idea.

The increasingly pointless Civic Trust website has been updated.

http://www.leedscivictrust.org.uk/

The increasingly pointless Civic Trust website has been updated.

http://www.leedscivictrust.org.uk/

As a member of the CT I have to agree with you. At one time its planning list details and comments were updated every month and were the source of real iinformation - but no longer. Compared with what we learn from Skyscrapercity and other sources their site is now largely irrelevant.

Any thoughts on me starting a new thread? A thread all about the suburbs of Leeds and the changing architecture? The thread could include all the small towns that make Leeds and the Leeds Region what it is today.
All the areas of Leeds are developing....excluding Horsforth which is dominated by a bunch of the worlds biggest heap of OCD nimby minded area stifling anti develoment devalue property prices, youth/life and community blocking twats!

lol. Well theres only 3 H&Ms! (Briggate, Leeds Shopping Plaza, White Rose)- nothing on Subway!

And on a different point; who was in Millennium Square during todays bomb scare! So we all got evacuated =/ so I decided to go see superman in the cinema instead lol..

It's Yorkshire Day today, hooray.

http://www.unionjackwear.co.uk/images/pic3.jpg

Happy Yorkshire Day everyone. A chance to celebrate everything Yorkshire from William Wilberforce, the Vikings, Freddie Trueman and Delius to the Kaiser Chiefs and the Arctic Monkeys.

What things do you think symbolise Yorkshire the most?

What things do you think symbolise Yorkshire the most?

The couple from the "dirty robbing bastards" sketch on the Catherine Tate Show :)

What's so special about Yorkshire? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5234444.stm)

What's so special about Yorkshire? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5234444.stm)

Yeah, yeah. No-one takes us seriously, string of cliches, oh-so-hilarious flippant tone, photo of terrace chimeys (because it's still the 1950s up here and we all have coal fires, etc, etc)


http://static.flickr.com/49/118797111_e517d87592_o.jpg


http://static.flickr.com/40/101526462_12b13c1b45_b.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/40/101526462_12b13c1b45_b.jpg

Whoever made this shot, I salute you! :wave: :bow:

From yesterday's YP (somehow nobody posted it yet):


New village plan for disused quarry
Proposals provide for creche, pub, gym and railway station
Andrew Robinson
A DISUSED quarry looks set to be transformed into a 470-home village, with its own pub, creche and gym.
Plans have been submitted to Leeds Council for a multi-million pound development of Woodside Quarry, a 30-acre site between Horsforth and Adel in Leeds.
The outline planning application, submitted by the Burford Group, safeguards land for a new train station and station car park on the Leeds to Harrogate line, subject to funding and support from Metro.
The site, which is plagued by vandals and is also used by off-road motorcyclists, presently contains quarry rubble and some contaminated waste.
The plans include nearly 10,000 square metres of office space, a hotel, shops, an 80-bed nursing home and a medical centre.
Neighbouring woodland would remain undeveloped. The submission of the plans follows six months of public consultation by Burford on the future of the site.
Duncan Phillips, development director at the Burford Group, said: "We are very grateful to the local community for its response to our consultation.
"The feedback we received has been both helpful and informative in putting together our application."
He added: "The community feedback largely reinforced the need to redevelop the site and was broadly supportive of the approach we were taking.
"The mix of uses we are proposing responds to the planning policy need to provide employment on the site.
"However, it also recognises local concerns over the inclusion of industrialised employment uses in what is a predominantly residential area. Many people emphasised the visual and recreational value of the woodland surrounding the quarry and were reassured that our development would not extend into it.
"We do own some of the woodland and are backing up our guarantee not to build on it by offering to transfer our woodland ownership to Leeds Council which already owns large parts of the adjacent woods.
"We are also proposing to contribute funding towards a woodland management plan aimed at enhancing the woodland and the recreational opportunities within it."
Woodside Quarry, which is off the A6120 ring road, was used for sandstone extraction from the late 1800s to 1993 and was a waste management site until 2004.
The site also includes the Gilchrist Studios former bedding factory which fronts onto the ring road.
This will be demolished to make way for large offices but there will also be space on the site for smaller firms and start-up businesses.
Work is needed to stabilise a 500m rock face around the quarry edge which is unstable and prone to rock falls.
Around 90 per cent of the site's surface is covered with quarry waste and demolition materials. The Burford Group says there are "isolated pockets of contamination".
The site has plagued by fly tippers, motorbikers and thieves dumping and burning cars in the quarry and woodland.
Anyone with a query can contact the Woodside Quarry information office on 0845 602 8194 or by email at woodsidequarry@gka.co.uk.

01 August 2006

double post

Sounds a good plan for an empty site. I just hope it's not the usual suburban office park and housing estate dross built on the site.

I can imagine a lot of people moving there then complaining that their reception is crap :)

The outline planning application, submitted by the Burford Group, safeguards land for a new train station and station car park on the Leeds to Harrogate line, subject to funding and support from Metro.

Hmm, can see where this one's going. Shades of the bridge from City Island? Should the developers not be funding the new station?

Less cynically though, I think it could be a very positive development for Horsforth, this and the Miller Homes development on the other side of the ring road will clear up 2 huge brownfield sites and give Woodside the train station that it's crying out for.

If the Kirkstall Forge development also includes the rumoured train station, then the Horsforth/Kirkstall area will actually be very well served for public transport links! :)

Counc. Chris Townsley will get his claws into it and start the normal campaign with all his NIMBY cronies, and that will be the end of it (like almost every other proposal in Horsforth in the last couple of decades).

From yesterday's YP (somehow nobody posted it yet):

etc...etc...etc...
oh golly gosh and God forbid! just think of all those people this might attract! local employment! Oh how totally horrid!

oooooh! but how utterly superb! A nursing home and a medical centre. Now you're talking! Now that is worth approval! ..but with restrictions on the use of mobility scooters... really can't do with too many folk moving around! Well..what can I say! Go Horsforth go! Yipppeee doo! It's all happening here!

oh golly gosh and God forbid! just think of all those people this might attract! local employment! Oh how totally horrid!

oooooh! but how utterly superb! A nursing home and a medical centre. Now you're talking! Now that is worth approval! ..but with restrictions on the use of mobility scooters... really can't do with too many folk moving around! Well..what can I say! Go Horsforth go! Yipppeee doo! It's all happening here!

Good stuff for my home area. It has been a madness that a station at Woodside has never been built as that would attract traffic from allover NW Leeds to the station and I cannot understand how Metro, Network Rail, Yorkshire Forward or whoever is responsible for such infrastructure cannot build the thing. As for the Councillor why is he such a NIMBY as potentially Horsforth could be quite a reasonable town but he seems to want to keep the area paused in the 1960s for some reason with the ring road only been single carriageway, a diabolical high street consisting nothing more than banks, pubs, takeaways, charity shops, travel agents and a Morrisons that is the size of a shoe box wheras surely they could aim to make Horsforth like some of the classier London suburbs perhaps like Richmond or Hampstead? Mind you he cannot have much infleuence at LCC on a overall level as Lumiere would probably be a two storey business park style stump if he were powerful.

Horsforth has the potential to be just as good, if not better than Roundhay and Alwoodley- its well served by transport (well, in comparison to some areas), lots of countryside around... Just needs investment

They should re-open the station at Rodley too.

Something needs doing at Horforth roundabout. I used to live 5 minutes drive from there and work at Thornbury. At 8am it took me nearly half an hour to get the two miles from my house to just past the roundabout and then only 5 minutes for the remaining 5 miles. I'd spend 20 mins of a half hour journey in a queue at that roundybout

Artist plans iconic sculpture for city to rival Angel of the North

An internationally renowned artist wants to create an iconic sculpture for Leeds that he hopes will rival The Angel of the North.

Richard Hudson says he has already begun talks with the city council to create a 25 metre-high sculpture based on his piece The Unholy Likeness of Being – which would be even bigger than the 20-metre tall Angel of the North created by Anthony Gormley.

And he hopes his piece of art will help erase the painful memories of the failed sculpture The Brick Man that Mr Gormley planned for the city in 1988, but never came to fruition.

Mr Hudson has exhibited extensively in Spain and his work sells for hundreds of thousands of pounds.
One of the major artists working in sculpture today, he is featured in the private collections of Claudia Schiffer and Elton John, and had been commissioned to create a piece for Madrid if the city had secured the bid for the 2012 Olympics.

His last exhibition in England, at London's Hamiltons Gallery last year, was a sell-out. In September he will exhibit at the Kevin Linfoot Gallery at Whitehall Road in Leeds, coming to the city at the invitation of Leeds-based property developer Mr Linfoot.

"Being invited to exhibit here by Kevin was fantastic," said Mr Hudson.

"It was amazing to see what Leeds has become in the past few years and being in the city, I realised that it needed an iconic piece of art. A sculpture that people could feel is part of the city and could be identified with the city."

Mr Hudson approached the council and is putting together a proposal for the 25 metre brass sculpture which he says will cost £1.2m – half of which he believes he can raise through private investors.

But could he be simply setting up the people of Leeds for more heartbreak after the city's hopes crashed when The Brick Man failed?

"The problem with The Brick Man was the cost of maintenance. I'm proposing a sculpture that will be made of bronze and so won't need any maintenance and can be left to turn into different, beautiful colours over the years, and will be there for many years," he said.

"The Angel of the North has become a well-known symbol, I hope something similar can be created in Leeds."

Posted: Wednesday, August 02, 2006
leedsliveitloveit.com

Horsforth has the potential to be just as good, if not better than Roundhay and Alwoodley- its well served by transport (well, in comparison to some areas), lots of countryside around... Just needs investment
Horsforth has no problem attracting investment...it is the mad mentality of repeatedly rejecting these developers and their willingness to invest in the area...the determination to keep Horsforth investment free!

You think of Horsforth as rather nice but in the day time Town Street is a real dirty dump! It's really awful! At night thanks to a few pints and the dark it looks much better. I've given up on Horsforth now and drive out to shop... as we have to if we want leasure facilities swimming pool and so on. ( oh if you don't know there is a pressure group fighting to get Horsforth a swimming pool.... fingers crossed! )


Mind you he cannot have much infleuence at LCC on a overall level as Lumiere would probably be a two storey business park style stump if he were powerful.
...ah...something to be thankful for!

The Station at Rodley would be useful..so would the Newlay station. We wrote letters for years asking for it to be opened and in the end quite recenty we got a letter back saying whooops...just sold the land..sorry so can no longer consider opening the station..basically it would have involved people traveling to the station to get on the trains...oh soo horriffic! We can't have that an we! So basically I give up and not jiun the sod the environment brigade! and sod public transport! So we've now joined the rat race with two big cars..if you can't beat them join them. Horsfortn seemed an ideal location but thanks to King Nimby it has mised too many opportunities over the years.

I will never forget my first trip to the local Morrisons! WHAT A DUMP!!!!! And so small! Having been used to inner city Bradford Morrisons in Girlington.. a superb supermarket it took some getting used to the low sandards in Horsforth but I got there with time..almost......so I have supported it in hope if a new supermarket but give up on that too... so I drive out to shop. Whch is a shame because the local Morrisons staff are fantastic polite helpful cheerful people and they deserve a superb working environment! Not that dump! I think also once there was amall retail park proposed for woodside area..garden cenrte or something... but it would have attracted people and cars. The rail link to the airport was also proposed so many years ago.... and still waiting! But again peope might use it! So really it must be a no go! As far as Horsforth goes if people will use it then NOT IN MY BACK YARD!!! It's HOPELESS! :(


Were the Nimby King alive when they built St Margarets we would even be lacking out local landmark! He'd be saying:"oh no too tall to tall! Someone might see it! What if it casts a shadow! What if people saw it and came to Church! We'd have to put up with people! ..and their bloody Horses shitting all over the road! Sorry... but nimby!"


Ummm..I thought there as o be a Horsforth Nimby Capital of the World thread set up... us Horsfidians have suffered years of frustration! ....need to vent!


Oh well..Guisely looks good but a little too far out...Kirkstall looks good. I would be seriously tempted to move to Kirkstall and looked at a few properties there but can't really let the kids shift schools. Shame as I think property there would be a good investment and the kids would have like it there better... seems much less stuck up and less middle class oap orientated.

Well I've only really been through Horsforth- not into the centre. Hardly the place Id think of making a day trip to so I couldnt really say what its really like- but what Ive seen of it it doesnt look too bad. Maybe it looks worse because its a rather wealthy city- stuck in the suburbs of another city it might be the Roundhay of the city!

Bang opposite Morrisons (or "Moggy's") there is a bit of wasteland, used as a carpark. I read in the YEP a few years ago that a law firm bought that bit of land with a view to redevelopment. However, the parish council (whatever) opposed these plans, leaving the law firm with, well, a bit of land.

So incensed were the law firm that they declared they would not redevelop or sell the land, rather they would leave it to be "Forever a blot on Horsforth's landscape". Pretty petty, but a good yarn.

..yep..there was supposed to be a CP order on that land for use with the new proposals for Morrisons but unfortunately I think that all went on hold for the moment.

Well I've only really been through Horsforth- not into the centre. Hardly the place Id think of making a day trip to so I couldnt really say what its really like- but what Ive seen of it it doesnt look too bad. Maybe it looks worse because its a rather wealthy city- stuck in the suburbs of another city it might be the Roundhay of the city!
oh don't get me wrong..it's a nice place...trees, grass good views... but it has just suffered from over tight planning/development restrictions and a lot of lacking in forsight. They messed up in the 60/70 when only poor quality was on offer and won't move on.

Aspects such as the pedestrianisation of Town street is easily feasible and would transform Horsforth..but because it was proposed and turned down in 1970 they consider the matter sorted! For local shops it is so expensive to have a shop on Town Street except for Charity shops so now there are so many charity shops which sell new goods and gifts they add to the problem . They could do with limiting the amount of charity shops because they really have taken over! But there are good bars and so on there. Replace Morrisons and the nasty 70's trash, clean the streets and get rid of the traffic down Town Street, add some Leisure facilities and cafe facilities/swimming pool to the park.... and ideally more retail areas and more welcoming balanced attitude to developers then Horsforth would be highly attractive.


At the moment though New Road Side in Horsforth though is the place to be retail wise.. attractive, a very well cared for shopping area. And the cute private school there is very popular.

I can imagine Horsforth would be a popular place for charity shops! I'll have to have a proper look round sometime.

I cannot understand why charity shops would be popular though in Horsforth as it is has a large middle class population and I certainly don't use such stores. Is the reason such stores are so common generally is because (I read somewhere that) charity shops are given lower rates of rent and thus have an advantage over other potential shops at acquiring sites due to compassionate reasons (thus having an unfair advantage). Personally I think they should be banned or at the least restricted as they serve no purpose other than making high streets look awful.

Also one crazy thing about Horsforth is it has no pharmacy on Town Street whereas for example Headingley has three. Why is that the case considering a large population. I agree with another poster that the seventies stuff should be demolished as it looks poor and perhaps something of a high quality integrating with the historical high street should be built to replace it. They could also try open more decent restaurants and bars along here as well to encourage this to become a trendy suburb rivalling Chapel Allerton and Headingley.

Well, Harrogate is probably the richest town in the region, but charity shops thrive! Infact theres even a charity shop district around Commercial Street, but they also pollute the Montpellier Quarter and the main centre too! From this I would conclude that in real life, charity shops go anywhere, regardless of how rich or poor the place is!

I cannot understand why charity shops would be popular though in Horsforth as it is has a large middle class population and I certainly don't use such stores.

Daily Mail reader alert ;)

So the middle classes don't use charity shops?

Are you aware that nestled amongst the Prada, Gucci, Cartier etc there is an Oxfam on Bond Street in London?

Is the reason such stores are so common generally is because (I read somewhere that) charity shops are given lower rates of rent and thus have an advantage over other potential shops at acquiring sites due to compassionate reasons (thus having an unfair advantage). Personally I think they should be banned or at the least restricted as they serve no purpose other than making high streets look awful.

I heard a crazy rumour that they also served a purpose by raising money for worthy causes.

Well theres an Oxfam next to Betty's in Harrogate, and until recently Scope retained a prime position on parliament street- think rents are probably too high now for it to stay. I know plenty of people who go to charity shops- theyre good for cheap things for dressing up and material for events, and people find some good clothes there sometimes.

The Oxfam store in Headingley is a gold mine, my bookcase is peppered with books bought from it. I am what most people would say middle class to the core and have no qualms about buying from charity shops.

Sorry about what I said I guess I was a bit over the top with what I said and of course charity shops do help fund good causes but there is a bit of concern with over proliferation of charity shops in some locations ahead of other potential tenants and stifling choice on some high streets as to limiting it to just charity shops and thus potentially limiting inward investment to a particular high street if that has a reputation of just being a haven for charity shops and resulting custom and new developers to go elsewhere? I guess if charity shops were presented right keeping in mind with the building they occupy then a charity shop could keep a high street look reasonable. It appears Oxfam in Headingley and near the Corn Exchange do try to bed in to their buildings but some other charities just takeover a building formerly occupied by someone else, place a large sign above a shop and call it a store which of course does not take care of their high street environment in a sustainable and attractive fashion (although of course the same could be said for many high street chain stores). I guess one reason why they are so prevelant is because of what were once butchers, greengrocers, bakers etc had since closed down with the proliferation of supermarkets and charity shops were the only choice for tenants at the time.

I cannot understand why charity shops would be popular though in Horsforth as it is has a large middle class population and I certainly don't use such stores. Is the reason such stores are so common generally is because (I read somewhere that) charity shops are given lower rates of rent and thus have an advantage over other potential shops at acquiring sites due to compassionate reasons (thus having an unfair advantage). Personally I think they should be banned or at the least restricted as they serve no purpose other than making high streets look awful.


....actually it's those with a middle class attitude who use charity shops because they are into recycling. Most people I know with families( excluding some unwaged who only wear new designer gear ) use the charity shops for toys clothes books and to recycle these when they are done. I think women like them too cos they always put weight on..loose it..put it on...loose it again so the new to you shops make good sense! But also on the middle class thingy....Town Street actually sides onto a few massive Council estates covering most of the N/E and E half of Horsforth so it is actually a typical normal average residential area rather than a middle class area.

charity shops are given lower rates of rent and thus have an advantage over other potential shops at acquiring sites due to compassionate reasons (thus having an unfair advantage).
yes.. this is so. Many small companies can not afford to compete with the charity shops who have less overheads such as the rates because of their chariatble status and also tend to have mostly unpaid staff which is another huge advantage. Shop owners had no problem with the charity shops selling used garments, books etc..but increasingly they sell new cards, new gifts...this creates unfair competition.... and to think they use the term 'fair trade!' Our shop owners here also need fair trade! They are also only trying to live! So yes charity shops are a problem for small local shops. In Town street they seem to be kept to one end of the street but still the numbers of them have increased over the years!


Also one crazy thing about Horsforth is it has no pharmacy on Town Street
I'm sure there were two not long ago. One closed down and one moved to the new Health centre. There are two on New Road Side as well as I think on Station Road. Horsforth has the three main shopping streets running from Station Road down Long Row to Town Street and then over to New Road Side...where we have no charity shops! :)


OKay..out of interest: Horsforth. :)

http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/museum_gfx_en/YH000070.html

http://www.horsforth.com/

http://www.dalesview.fsnet.co.uk/horsforth/

http://www.horsforth-online.co.uk/


http://www.francisfrith.com/images/catalogue/c10/high/46/horsforth_47133.jpg
Town street 1901

http://www.francisfrith.com/images/catalogue/c10/high/46/horsforth_H118032.jpg
Town street 1960

http://www.francisfrith.com/images/catalogue/c10/high/46/horsforth_H118002.jpg
New Roadside 1955


Horsforth Hall and Hall Park 1901
http://www.francisfrith.com/images/catalogue/c10/high/46/horsforth_47139.jpg

http://www.francisfrith.com/images/catalogue/c10/high/46/horsforth_47140.jpg



Also..... For your help in recycling: Leeds Charity shops:

http://www.wiseupleeds.net/default.asp?scheme=&viewSection=public&expand=Waste+and+Recycling&articleID=278

Its the huge bit plastic signs and tacky labels and posters they put up that make the charity shops look rubbish. But some do look ok- Oxfam Montpellier has a wooden frontage and is quite well done up- not too much space inside so its not all sparsely spread.

Also, all sorts of stores stock fairtrade goods! Not just charity shops- Leeds, UK's largest fairtrade city :) To be fair, the people trying to live here are still gonna get more than £1 a day even if its just from benefits etc!

To be fair, the people trying to live here are still gonna get more than £1 a day even if its just from benefits etc!


you can't justify unfair competition on our highstreets with comments like this.

fairtrade is like organic! It is a good marketing gimmick. You take something that should be normal and make it sound like something fantastic! Oh ..the salaries of the few paid charity workers from what I've seen is actually imo shockingly high! I would never work as a volunteer. lol! It is not ethical to work for free to fill in your free time when people need incomes to live and to support their families.

Am i the only one who's fairly relieved to find that nobody from Leeds or West Yorkshire was involved in yesterdays terrorist plot?

On a more relevant note, there's an interesting article on the BBC Leeds website about the mothballed Rank/Odeon cinema in the Merrion Centre.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2006/08/10/local_history_odeon_merrion_feature.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/images/2006/08/10/foyer_400x300.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/images/2006/08/10/foyer_chandelier_400x300.jpg

Thats incredible can't believe how such a site has been left unused for thirty years and looks quite intrestingly retro although a bit too yellow in places. Is the reason that it has been never redeveloped has been because the Rank Organisation had still owned the lease to the building for many years after closure as surely they could sell this site to someone with a bit of imagination as to what to use the site for. Surely this site could potentially be reused to be a decent concert hall or maybe a theatre or art cinema.

I love the chandallier, hopefully when/if this site is redeveloped the retro charm can be kept.

Love that chandallier! Isn't it wonderful! :)

Am i the only one who's fairly relieved to find that nobody from Leeds or West Yorkshire was involved in yesterdays terrorist plot?
I think it's quite irrelevant where they come from as it's not a local issue in any shape or form.

I think it's quite irrelevant where they come from as it's not a local issue in any shape or form.

I mean relieved in the sense that it should shift the focus of media attention away from the region at last.

Am i the only one who's fairly relieved to find that nobody from Leeds or West Yorkshire was involved in yesterdays terrorist plot?


I think it's quite irrelevant where they come from as it's not a local issue in any shape or form.

On a larger scale it is surely irrelevant, compared to the fact that they were caught and thousands of lifes spared. But I agree with di Livio - if at least one of them were from Leeds, we would be labeled in the media as terrorist's nest. Now people will realise it is not just Leeds, but national issue.

Of course, the greater relief is that no-one was killed or injured.

Im sure there is an Old Post Office Thread but I couldnt find it... meh

leedstoday.net

£6m 'Post Office' luxury flats ready
THE transformation of one of Leeds' best-known public buildings into luxury flats has been completed.
The £6m project has turned the former Post Office in City Square into a residential building.
The 18-month contract has created 23 one and two-bedroom apartments in the heart of the city.
Bingley-based construction firm Topp and Holmes carried out the work for property development firm The Highstone.
Topp and Holmes is likely to post a record year of growth following the recent completion of the project, its biggest to date in the centre of Leeds.
Topp and Holmes contracts manager Chris Berryman said: "The complex project, entitled Residence 6, involved the complete remodelling of the building interior including specialist robotic demolition, major structural works, roof refurbishment, steel and glass balustrading, fully bespoke joinery, and the installation of four lifts and mezzanine flooring.
Satisfaction
"Additional sympathetic restoration works to the façade of the building including creating new entrances for two adjoining restaurants were also carried out."
Topp and Holmes managing director Greg Topp said: "This is a real landmark project for the company and a clear sign that we are able to fulfil demanding and high quality construction projects to the full satisfaction of our clients.
"Jobs such as this are firmly establishing Topp and Holmes within Yorkshire's construction sector and we are looking to achieve continuing growth.
"This undertaking involved a lot of challenges but the end result is a stunning and highly desirable residential development that is a real flagship within the city."
The firm was launched 20 years ago. It is a member of both the Federation of Master Builders and National House Builders Confederation has been based on Bradford Road in Bingley for the past 15 years with a full-time workforce of 30.
It is involved in developments such as the Victoria Quarter, Leeds, and Doncaster shopping centre.

The Aparthotel in the post office has been getting some great reviews, and is very competively priced compared to a conventional hotel of that standard. The rooms/apartments start at £120 a night. I saw some pictures of the interiors onlnie and they've been done to a very high standard. if I'm right, one of the buildings at Clarence Dock was bought to be made into an aparthotel also wasn't it?

I mean relieved in the sense that it should shift the focus of media attention away from the region at last.

My thoughts entirely, especially as this was a much bigger plot. It is irrelevant where the perpetrators reside as this is a political and religous issue.

However, the south based 'north-phobic' media just love any reason to slate the northern cities because they are angry at our growth and being able to stand on our own two feet at last. This is at the cost of power over the north slipping away from the south which they don't like.

As evidence, the government report 'The Northern Way' states that Manchester and Leeds together are now a viable alternative to London, this is increasing as time goes by. Also the recent league tables on expendable income (after housing) and quality of life made good headlines as most were in the north.

The (London) Evening Standard amongst other broad sheets often don't hide this clear bias in many of the bad articles they publish. They do tend to live in a bubble that revolves around worshipping themselves, and don't look to see what is going outside the M25 and Thames Valley.

But I agree with di Livio - if at least one of them were from Leeds, we would be labeled in the media as terrorist's nest. Now people will realise it is not just Leeds, but UK issue.
I don't think any people with anything worth and more then two brain cells to rub together are really that stupid to believe something so silly. The media always love to play games but it is accepted that this is well understood to be meaningless irritating media banter.



It may be worth educationalists in the world getting their heads together and wondering if it is time to stop filling kids heads with idealistic, anti establishment anarchist hyper depressing doom and gloom trash and start encouraging more enlightened, positive thinking.

Scaffolding is going up around Fairfax House... whats the plan for this building? are they planning on sprusing up this rather bland building?

Scaffolding is going up around Fairfax House... whats the plan for this building? are they planning on sprusing up this rather bland building?

IIRC Rob posted a news item recently about a refurb of Fairfax House. I think it'll only be internal as the budget was only circa £1m. Sadly it doesn't involve a wrecking ball. Were it not for the wonderful Fuji Hiro I don't think I'd ever bother venturing anywhere near this increasingly forlorn looking part of town.

Its a shame this part of town is a bit bland and characterless, but at least it is ripe land for redevelopment, but having said that, so is a lot of Leeds

A few food and drink snippets:
- Loch Fyne fish restaurant has opened alongside The Restaurant Bar and Grill in the Old Post Office
- Wagamama has finally opened off Park row
- Wetherspoons are to open a new Leeds pub, in Millennium Square. I think this must be the empty unity that was formerly Cocoon.
- Pret a Manger have taken the old all:sports unit opposite WHSmiths. Nice to see this prominent corner filled, and a further addition to the run of cafes and takeaways down Albion Place.

- Pret a Manger have taken the old all:sports unit opposite WHSmiths. Nice to see this prominent corner filled, and a further addition to the run of cafes and takeaways down Albion Place.

Interesting change of use. Mo' litter for Central Square?

Last time I was up, i noticed the covers have come off the two white-ish banks on Park Row. Unsure about the quality of the top floor extension on one of them, particularly as it's a Grade II listed building, but it's given the structure some balance and height which looks good.

http://www.leodis.net/imagesLeodis/screen/13/10313.jpg

Yeah I think the two banks look really good all spruced up - the extension looks decent and achieves good balance. Have they put flats above the Becketts?

They also seem to be cleaning up one of the office blocks just round the corner on the Headrow. I quite like it when the existing (quality) building stock is improved.

Also noticed some work commencing on the little plot between Revolution and Arts Cafe on Call Lane - not sure what it is though? Anyone have any idea as I really like this part of town - from Kirkgate/Vicar Lane/Boar Lane round to the Calls.

Also scaffold up on Holy Trinity Church, Boar Lane (probably some essential maintenance to this wonderful building)

A few food and drink snippets:
- Loch Fyne fish restaurant has opened alongside The Restaurant Bar and Grill in the Old Post Office
- Wagamama has finally opened off Park row
- Wetherspoons are to open a new Leeds pub, in Millennium Square. I think this must be the empty unity that was formerly Cocoon.
- Pret a Manger have taken the old all:sports unit opposite WHSmiths. Nice to see this prominent corner filled, and a further addition to the run of cafes and takeaways down Albion Place.

Visited both Loch Fyne and Wagamama the other week. Wagamama has a much better look and feel than Mononi which used to be on the site. It's pretty much standard fare of the kind to be found at Fuji Hiro and Tampopo, but none the worse for that. Reasonable prices, quick service, and very good food - what more can you ask?

Loch Fyne is surprisingly big for what looks to be quite a small unit compared with Restaurant Bar and Grill next door. The kitchen's open plan so you can see the cooks filleting the fish before your eyes; thankfully, they don't bugger the fish about too much before it lands on your plate. The oysters are delicious, though I don't think I could have coped with the 18 that each of the people on the next table had!

It's good news, too about Pret A Manger, and I don't care if they are owned by McDonalds. The food is a world away from the McShite you get in the other place. It would be good to see the whole building cleaned up as well.


http://www.leodis.net/imagesLeodis/screen/73/2002319_73804873.jpg

........Also noticed some work commencing on the little plot between Revolution and Arts Cafe on Call Lane - not sure what it is though? Anyone have any idea as I really like this part of town - from Kirkgate/Vicar Lane/Boar Lane round to the Calls......

It's a development of flats for Yorkshire Metropolitan Housing and will add to the stock they have between Call Lane and Lower Briggate. Their offices and the front entrance to the flats can be found in Lower Briggate in what used to be the Royal Hotel.


http://www.leodis.net/imagesLeodis/screen/79/8779.jpg

Some more old photos on flickr. They are really good.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielrobot/sets/72057594048827351/
http://static.flickr.com/68/215341532_01e24940c4_b.jpg

Some more old photos on flickr. They are really good.


daveylad, you are a star and I am quite literally foaming at the mouth.

You can see how a larger St. John's Gardens on the site of the St. John's centre would give the the city the green space it needs.


http://static.flickr.com/82/215342802_df1c04f58c_b.jpg


Also, who'd have thought there was a tower and an arcade originally proposed for the same site.

http://static.flickr.com/89/215355254_302fe5885d_b.jpg


http://static.flickr.com/67/215333093_6ad38a7ae2_b.jpg

Wow, that old marketing poster's quite something, and using the much hated (and short lived) Norwich Union office building as the centrepiece, it is a good photo though in that it captures the busy commercial image intended.

I like it; they should use the same poster again, but with the 'new' City Square; which has always been at the heart of the city where the commercial and retail quarters meet. The station nearby I think gives it more vibe too. Definetley a good image for a poster like that.

http://members.aol.com/Lahbritishtours/leedsqueens.jpg
..

Blimey the building on the corner next to the Unitarian Chapel looks quite fine - and was replaced by a horror.

The image of trams reminds us of what might have been ... though according to the new Tory mini-manifesto there is speak of allowing cities to build light rail systems - so if middle England vote in Cameron as looks possible then Leeds might see some benefit?!!

If that bulding that was razed to make way for the horrific Plaza Hotel was not structurally unsound and could not possibly have been restored then the planners allowed a huge mistake to let it get demolished! What were them crazy 60's planners thinking? One of the prime spots in Leeds with eye sores like that and the even uglier Leeds Shopping Plaza building close by!!!!

Allowing the demolition of the old Royal Exchange building was a crime, I don't think there was anything really wrong with it structurally. It would be listed and preserved if it had survived until now.

However, the Park Plaza hotel certainly isn't a horror, it is a standard high rise building of the type cities like Leeds needs, it just should have been built somewhere else.

I dont actually share the views of the Park Plaza Hotel; its not architecturally stunning but its not ugly. I like the podium anyway, not so much the tower itself- but its better than it was. I dont really see whats so bad about it! There are few buildings on the city skyline that I think are actually ugly. City House, Hilton and maybe WRH. K2, Tower House, Park Plaza, Ibis, West Point, Whitehall Quays, College of Music, Basillica are all worthy to be on the skyline imo.

Blimey the building on the corner next to the Unitarian Chapel looks quite fine - and was replaced by a horror.

The image of trams reminds us of what might have been ... though according to the new Tory mini-manifesto there is speak of allowing cities to build light rail systems - so if middle England vote in Cameron as looks possible then Leeds might see some benefit?!!
I wouldn't hold your breath harryd - it could be years before they get in (if at all) and even if they do, there's no guarantee that they'd fulfil their promises. We need a good transit system in Leeds now, which is why I'm trying to encourage the WYPTA to get their skates on and do something achievable before we all choke to death.

Yeah I accept that we're going to be gridlocked for a long while yet.

It seems such an issue though - how can a city continue to flourish without decent means of getting in and around. It seems pretty fundamental to me. But there seems to be a real inertia in government and the wider establishment to undertake these schemes outside of the South East.

Predictably, I jibbed at the first sentence of the second paragraph.

Leeds joins a list of trendy student locations including Falmouth, Salford, St. Andrews and Norwich.

Cool places to go to college
Published: 17 August 2006, The Independent

Lofty spires, worthy tutors and libraries are all very well. But where should you apply if your undergraduate interests are a little more extra-curricular? Thousands of places are still up for grabs - and lots of them in cities you might not have considered. Whether it's bargain beer, great gigs, cutting-edge clubs or fashionable friends you're after, Anthony Leyton presents the insider's guide to Britain's hip university hotspots

LEEDS

About 15 years ago, Leeds decided to do something about the fact people were only visiting it to change trains to Manchester. As a result, classy bars have sprung up, pubs swept out the sawdust, and Harvey Nicks has arrived. Now it's a 24-hour party city with a bulging indie underbelly and Manchester's glancing sullenly at it over the Pennines. Who cares if the one-way system can reduce motorists to tears when there's dirt-cheap Yorkshire bitter to drink and the legendary Gatecrasher night to go to? Best of all, though, is Headingley: once a scraggy city-centre satellite, it's now a thriving studentland, packed with pubs, loan-friendly Victorian housing and morning-after cafés. With so much going on around them, the two students' unions shouldn't need to do anything to entertain their members. Still, since Leeds University's The Refectory is the city's largest live music venue and Leeds Metropolitan's Met Bar has the monopoly on big giggers (Oasis, Coldplay, The Darkness and The Doves are all recent visitors), locals end up hammering on the door as much as students do. Despite the proximity of the two institutions, they are as chummy as old drinking buddies. Largely because they are old drinking buddies.

Best for: Beer monsters
Cost of a pint: £2.50
Cost of accommodation: £58
Nightlife: *****
Music scene: ****
Union activity (Leeds): ***
Union activity (Leeds Metropolitan): **
Pulling potential: 53 per cent are women.
Notable alumni (Leeds): Barry Cryer; Jeremy Dyson; Alistair McGowan; Mark Knopfler; Jack Straw; Wole Soyinka; Nicholas Witchell; Alan Yentob
Notable alumni (Leeds Metropolitan): Marc Almond; Betty Boothroyd; Ricky Wilson

"Leeds is a fantastic city with a reputation as a great place to live and to socialise. There is a range of nightlife and, for those who like shop, it has the best shopping outside of London.
Anna Seymour, Leeds Metropolitan University students' union

"About 15 years ago, Leeds decided to do something about the fact people were only visiting it to change trains to Manchester"

Never mind that, what about this?!:

"Headingley: once a scraggy city-centre satellite, it's now a thriving studentland"

I think many would view the transformation of Headingley in quite a different light.

I would have given its sporting strength a mention! But oh well.

Did you really had to change for Manchester in Leeds, or it's a figure of speach? Sorry not always getting British humour (Ricky Gervais aside).

Noticed this on the Leeds Cityscape site...

http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/photos/14-08-2006/c/lumiere4da_copy.jpg

Noticed this on the Leeds Cityscape site...

Wow... I wonder if anything is moving on Criterion Place? Lumiere and Criterion together would become such an iconic combination, making Leeds instantly recognisable, and put something of significant hight and quality on the skyline, rather than the rather drab looking buildings we currently endure.

Okay, that was rather cruel to our skyline, but one has to see that it isn't the most elegant of views yet. Yet.

Subliving.

Okay, that was rather cruel to our skyline, but one has to see that it isn't the most elegant of views yet. Yet.

There's a tendency on the rest of the forum to dismiss Leeds' skyline, but I don't think it's bad for a major UK city. Reclads have taken away some of the grimness you still find in Birmingham and Manchester's skylines.

approaching 1500 posts...hmm, wasn't there a kind of agreed limit of 500ish so as not to put too much load on the SSC servers? if so, perhaps we should create the "Official Leeds Thread 7" as 7 is where we should be. Who wants a 7?

approaching 1500 posts...hmm, wasn't there a kind of agreed limit of 500ish so as not to put too much load on the SSC servers? if so, perhaps we should create the "Official Leeds Thread 7" as 7 is where we should be. Who wants a 7?

I agree it needs a new thread but wouldn't people wonder what had happened to threads 5 and 6?

I agree it needs a new thread but wouldn't people wonder what had happened to threads 5 and 6?
Hey let's take a risk...

Yes it should, but there is no Leeds moderator so threads tend to be generally uncontrolled!

Is Criterion clear glass or blue-tinted? Just by that image it suggests it is clear. Don't mind really myself but it would be interesting.

The Guardian website link asks 'Is Leeds the most female friendly city?'...

Girls' town

Leeds is the most female-friendly city in Britain, says a new survey of young urban women, topping the league for health care, safety, earnings and entertainment. So what's it like to live there? Anita Sethi asks some locals

Thursday September 7, 2006
The Guardian


Kay Mellor
We have a very strong sense of "girls' night". Couples go out on a Saturday night, girls go out on a Friday. It's chatting, being with your friends, drinking wine, leaving your boyfriend at home. And it's all women - my generation, my daughters' generation, the students. We'll go to a nice restaurant, consume several bottles of wine, organise the taxis and make sure everyone gets home safely.

Maybe it's a backlash against men going out, like they used to. The women reclaimed it, said, "It's our time now." Women have got more money and a general feeling of equality. Men here now treat women with a lot more respect than they used to. Once upon a time, many decades ago, Yorkshiremen went out to work and the women stayed home, brought up the children and suffered. If you like, feminism has had its effect here in Leeds. People do say "strong Yorkshire women". And they are strong. You wouldn't mess with them.
The architecture's also great and the university makes for a very vibrant city, restaurants buzzing, the nightlife - they bring a lot of colour to the city. The Playhouse had a big effect on Leeds, and to have Jude Kelly, a woman, in charge of a £12m building, had a lot of impact. I'd rather shop in Leeds now than London. We have fantastic shops and bargains. A Yorkshire woman is a Yorkshire woman and if she sees a copy of a designer dress in Topshop, she'll go and buy the copy. They're more discerning, really.

I remember in 1996 when my play, A Passionate Woman, was on in the West End, and David Pugh, my producer, got a bus to bring down all my friends from Leeds. And at the end of the night, he said, "You know, Kay, I could point out all the Yorkshirewomen here." And I said, "Why?" He said, "Because they're the only ones dressed up, and they're all dancing." And they were! They were all in their high heels and their low-cut tops, out on the dancefloor, saying, "Look at me!" And that's what was glorious about them. Women do dress up in Leeds. I'm going to a function on Sunday and it's new frock, legs waxed. We do know how to do it. It's a sense of occasion. We don't go out looking grungy. Open any Yorkshire girl's wardrobe and it will be packed with colour. That's a thing about women in Leeds - you'd freeze to death before you'd put a sweater on. They're standing outside the Majestic, stamping their feet in the cold. It's just part of being a sassy, northern young woman. And I love it. That's part of the reason I love Leeds. Kay Mellor was talking to Laura Barton.

Gemma Davey, 22 Solicitors' case worker
I've lived here all my life and I've never found any inequalities. A lot of the women I know are very career-based and in managerial jobs so it's a great city for independent women. My boyfriend's from Bradford, though, and Bradford men are definitely better!

Victoria Walker, 37 Accountant
For a professional single woman, Leeds is great. There are a lot more attractive and successful guys here. The healthcare is good as well. I lived in Nottingham for three years and didn't find it friendly at all, so I moved back because Leeds feels a lot safer. I'd never go out in Nottingham on my own - you saw a lot more violence on the streets.

Deborah Mathers, 43 Bus driver
I totally agree that this is the city to be living in if you're female. It's fabulous for shopping - we've got loads of designer shops. There's so much more money being ploughed into the city and people from everywhere are moving here. I'm a bus driver and the public treat me well. Men are responsive to women - only as long as you're not competition for them

Susan Ball, 45 Secretary in commercial surveyors
The city has grown so much, which means women are going out in groups so there's safety in numbers. There are female-friendly bars, so the atmosphere is comfortable and you don't feel intimidated. Although I tend to be able to hold my own anyway!

Anika Wass, 23 Hotel service manager
My old manager in Germany bossed us around, never told us "well done". I think that was because we were female. Guys were promoted more. Leeds is much better for my self-esteem. Here, I started working as an assistant, and people told me I was good and praised me. I've even been promoted and it was like - wow! In Germany I could never get so far. I also feel safer living here. In Berlin, it's not safe for women on your own.

Meeta Riyat, 26 Hotel finance controller
There are a lot of security measures here because there are a lot of female travellers in Leeds. I was born in Leeds and always find it a very safe and friendly city. There are lots of opportunities for Asian women - more want to work now. There are lots of support groups for elder Asian women too. My mum works for Leeds city council, advising women how to get into business, and she's seen it grow from strength to strength for women.

Nicola Drew, 22 Medic
Generally, I love it. I work for the British Army in Leeds where there's a lot of men who are old school. At my unit at Churchill barracks, I've been the only woman for four years. You do have to be quite tough but the guys tend to be quite protective. Occasionally I've had some quite rude things said to me but generally they've been lovely. Leeds is definitely a great place to work in the army as a woman.

Kiran Hussain, 25 Junior doctor
Hospitals are male dominated - I think I could only name five female surgical consultants out of 100. I had one professor and the first thing he said is that a woman's place is barefoot in the kitchen. Thankfully, he's retired. But women are enjoying all aspects of life that once only men did. Leeds is a multicultural city - you notice it as soon as you drive in. In the hospital, several female doctors come to work in full hijab. Having been born and raised in Manchester, I have to say they offer identical opportunities. Aesthetically, Leeds is great but I've outgrown the city now - it's too small. My heart is in Manchester.

Mercy Offei Essah, 43 NHS secretary
I lived in Austria for 12 years and job-wise, Leeds is very women-friendly. People go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. At work I haven't experienced any prejudice at all - maybe because we are not competing with men at a higher level. I was born in Ghana and people are treated in a more friendly way in the workplace here; they're introduced to higher levels.

Elsbeth Makombe, 24 Mother
I lived in Zimbabwe until I was 17 and it's better in Zimbabwe for a woman in terms of morals. Women are embraced in the culture. Here, girls are free to do whatever they want.

Chantelle Collinson, 16 College student
I would like to spend the rest of my life in Leeds as there are loads of different places to go shopping. Although I can't find any hunky men here.

You're not looking in the right place, luv.

Yes this report on female-friendly Leeds appeared in 'The Times' yesterday and (later) the YEP.

If you like, feminism has had its effect here in Leeds. People do say "strong Yorkshire women". And they are strong. You wouldn't mess with them.
..I'm not sure if that's such a great thing! I certainly meet women I'd not like to mess with but I'd not find that something to be impressed by. But then I'm more the mess with me and I'll cry type! Darn those feminists I just love guys! When something breaks the guys fix it. When you don't feel like opening a door the guys open it for you! They are great! love them! Going out for a night without the guys well that'd be hell! But each to their own. But then I'm not born in Yorkshire! so if she's right then phew!


But I agree Leeds is very people friendly and I love it. But I'm not sure that being male or female is all that relevant. :)

This is Yorkshire Post's report of the story -

Leeds is the most female-friendly city in the country, according to a study published today. Jan Fletcher: Tremendous accolade for city.The second largest metropolitan district in England came top in the poll while another West Yorkshire town Hebden Bridge came 10th. The study examined nightlife, career opportunities, shopping, and overall quality of life for female residents. The city, which has a population of around 715,000 with more than 75 different nationalities, has 361 bars and 31 nightclubs.
The city is the only one in the UK to have its own shopping week and offers best value for money for the discerning female, the survey found. The study, by the independent research body The Future Laboratory, found women could go to the "hippest" bars in the city without feeling out of place or being ripped off. Jan Fletcher, chairman of agency Marketing Leeds, said: "This is a tremendous accolade to all those in the city who are making Leeds the best place in the UK for living, studying and working.
"We are already 'living it and loving it' and we hope it will help bring more students, businesses and visitors to the city." The report, which polled more than 2,500 people, found the city was "a winner by design" with its "UK-renowned female-friendly boutique hotels like Quebecs and the £10m makeover at the Queens hotel". The report said: "A five-year audit of the city reveals Leeds is becoming a mini London: there may be a need for congestion charges in the future to ensure the city stays relatively pollution-free and pedestrian-friendly. "Leeds's retail environment couldn't be more exciting, what with independent designer emporium the Corn Exchange to uber-trendy Harvey Nichols in the stunning Victoria Quarter (the so-called Knightsbridge of the North) and Londonesque boutiques like the award-winning Hip. "Across the board, Leeds proved itself to be the UK's most female-friendly city." London did not make it in to the top 20 list.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v435/davidlufc/a36c69e8.jpg

I got It out of a book.

See that bit of the Queens, the bit nearest us on stilts, is that there now? If it is I've walked under it to the station probably over 9 million times and I've never noticed.

See that bit of the Queens, the bit nearest us on stilts, is that there now? If it is I've walked under it to the station probably over 9 million times and I've never noticed.

Yep. It's the bit where all the taxis drive under. You'd know it if you saw it. Kindof the sort of thing that no one notices until you point it out.

Subliving.

..

I continue to be obsessed with the The Standard Assurance building to the right of the frame. If I earn Bill Gates' cash I'll re-build it.
Rebuild it I tells yer! :scouserd:

http://www.leodis.net/imagesLeodis/screen/47/2003217_65513247.jpg

Now it's going to get very confusing if we have the Official Leeds Threads 4 and 7 both active.

Stop posting in this thread please team!

Ta v muchly.

Hey there's tram lines in that pic! What an amazing idea - why has no-one thought of that since?...

We're trying to arrange a UK-wide meetup if anyone is interested. No date or venue has been set yet so feel free to bounce some ideas around!

The thread is here... (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=392856)

Can we please close this thread. Or at least not use it.